Unconquered (1947)

An 18th century militiaman (Gary Cooper) buys and frees a beautiful indentured servant (Paulette Goddard). When a supplier (Howard Da Silva) of illegal firearms wants the girl for himself, he sparks a vicious battle between a Native American tribe and some colonists. Directed by Cecil B. DeMille (REAP THE WILD WIND). DeMille never heard of the axiom of less is more! He's taken a historical adventure and turned it into a two and a half hour epic. It's a lavish film with a cast of thousands, Indian battles, fancy dress balls, rushing the rapids and over the waterfall, all in gorgeous three strip Technicolor. It's also very simplistic. Everything is black and white. The villain (Da Silva) is totally evil and the demonized Indians are all treacherous savages. It's a glamorized imagination of the colonial era so don't expect any historical accuracy. The movie was a big hit but its budget was so huge that it didn't make its money back. The best I can say for it is that it looks sensational and you won't be bored. With Boris Karloff (as an Indian chief!), Ward Bond, Virginia Grey, Katherine DeMille, Lloyd Bridges, C. Aubrey Smith, Mike Mazurki and Henry Wilcoxon.